Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Directed and received by each toward the other; reciprocal.
  • adjective Having the same relationship to each other.
  • adjective Possessed in common.
  • adjective Of, relating to, or in the form of mutual insurance.
  • noun A mutual fund.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Based on the principle of mutuality in sharing both burdens and benefits: as, a mutual insurance company.
  • Reciprocally given and received; pertaining alike or reciprocally to both sides; interchanged: as, mutual love; to entertain a mutual aversion.
  • Equally relating to or affecting two or more together; common to two or more combined; depending on, proceeding from, or exhibiting a certain community of action; shared alike.
  • Common: used in this sense loosely and improperly (but not infrequently, and by many writers of high rank), especially in the phrase a mutual friend.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Reciprocally acting or related; reciprocally receiving and giving; reciprocally given and received; reciprocal; interchanged
  • adjective Possessed, experienced, or done by two or more persons or things at the same time; common; joint
  • adjective agreement among a number of persons to insure each other against loss, as by fire, death, or accident.
  • adjective one which does a business of insurance on the mutual principle, the policy holders sharing losses and profits pro rata.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having the same relationship, each to each other.
  • adjective Reciprocal.
  • adjective Possessed in common.
  • adjective Owned by the members.
  • noun A mutual fund, etc.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective common to or shared by two or more parties
  • adjective concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French mutuel, from Old French, from Latin mūtuus, borrowed; see mei- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle French mutuel, from Latin mutuus.

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Examples

  • Ms. IRMA THOMAS (Singer): We've been what you call mutual admirers of each other's talent for a long time.

    Tracy Nelson Relights Her Fire In 'Victim of the Blues' 2010

  • And one of the things we've got to do is to understand that we've got to strengthen security in small-town America, as well, by helping smaller communities and smaller counties develop what we call mutual aid agreements.

    CNN Transcript Mar 27, 2002 2002

  • In this sense, this is what I call mutual concessions, if we could change the terms, that is, and make an honorable agreement in which both parties assume similar commitments.

    28 JULY NEWS CONFERENCE WITH U.S. NEWSMEN 1983

  • Following this afternoon's practice at Winter Park, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier spoke to reporters about McNabb's departure, which he called a mutual decision that was best for both parties.

    StarTribune.com rss feed 2011

  • Transatlantic and Allied World called off their deal in mid-September, without specifying a reason for what they described as a mutual decision.

    unknown title 2011

  • I brought the old lady and Kitty to town with me, on what I call the mutual sight-seeing principle.

    Miles Wallingford Sequel to "Afloat and Ashore" James Fenimore Cooper 1820

  • We were contacted by another county for what we call mutual aid, which means they needed a little bit of assistance.

    Tennessean.com Dickson 2010

  • The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday in a statement that the team has ended its one-year contract with the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP in what it called a mutual agreement.

    BallHype - Top Sports News, Videos, and Blogs 2009

  • Memphis announced Monday that the team has ended its one-year contract with the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP in what it called a mutual agreement.

    TheState.com: The Buzz 2009

  • He and team officials later reached what they called a mutual decision that he be waived and days later, the New York Knicks, a reported suitor, said he did not fit into their rebuilding plans.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2009

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